Facebook Alert for Fake Jobs Abroad

The diversified functionality of social media networks like Facebook has gone a long way in providing immediate and timely mode of communication to many people worldwide.

For the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Afghanistan, Facebook has become the best option to warn their relatives about the rampant illegal recruitment being staged by syndicates promising a higher salary and a better life when employed in the Central Asian state.

The Filipinos in Afghanistan (FIA), an overseas Filipino group, has released an advisory about the prevalence of the three illegal recruiters victimizing Filipinos living in Bataan, Batangas and Nueva Ecija who want to seek greener pastures abroad.

Emmanuel Geslani, FIA spokesman in Manila, claimed several OFWs have been cheated by illegal recruiters. Their painful and unforgettable experiences have been posted in Facebook while some of them have started communicating, verifying and sharing information about their bad experiences.

Geslani reported previous OFWs in Iraq and Afghanistan were commonly being preyed upon by nonexistent jobs and sought to pay Php 150,000 as processing fees for the Kandahar Airfield jobs. One OFW shared she has shelled out Php 120,000 for a promised overseas job that was never existent.

Even in London, the Philippine Embassy in this UK capital city, has warned of online scammers that are luring Filipinos via Internet.

Scammers are taking every inch of opportunity to prey on Filipino hopefuls wanting to work in London through a seemingly quick online application.

The Philippine Embassy in London has posted a warning to all Filipinos of the new modus operandi of many illegal recruiters for UK jobs. Many of the bogus agencies seem to sound very professional making their services convincing and the would-be applicants would easily give in to their affirmations and payment requests.

Victims of the online scams are usually nurses or those wanting to pursue health-related careers.

Many scammers are offering lucrative job offers sent via e-mails and looked very convincing with immediate follow-ups and contract of agreement forms.

They also provide high salary and enterprising fringe benefit packages. They also require an employment certification and a good moral character certificate for verification.

In the initial stages of the submission of the requirements, reports claimed, everything seems fine. It is when the payment of fees has been transferred to the agency that the transaction becomes fishy.

Upon receiving the wired fees for the application, the agency stops communicating and nowhere to be found.

Common victims of illegal recruitment bound for UK are those applying as nannies, hotel personnel, store managers, salesmen and engineers.

To ensure the legality of the transaction to the supposed employer in UK, OFWs are advised to verify the job offers with the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA). With this, everyone is rest assured of getting legitimate employment.